The NHS is working to deliver the 10 Year Health Plan ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade. Improving the management of key cardiovascular risk factors, specifically blood pressure in patients with hypertension, and cholesterol in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) is key of this ambition.
To support delivery and enable system-level monitoring, NHS England has included two CVD indicators within the NHS Oversight Framework for 2026/27:
1. Number of patients with GP-recorded hypertension whose blood pressure is managed to NICE-recommended treatment thresholds
2. Number of patients with GP-recorded cardiovascular disease whose cholesterol is managed to NICE-recommended treatment thresholds
These indicators are derived from the CVDPREVENT audit and are used to assess performance at Integrated Care Board (ICB) level.